Washing machine



April 6, 1937. H. E. SURFACE ET AL 2,076,011

WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 17,1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTOIQNEY April 6, 1937. H. E: SURFACE ET AL 2,076,011

WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17, 1934.

INVENTORS 1 Harry 4''. Surface 94? f/mr/e: E Wood ATTO'RNEY Patented Apr. 6, 1937 2,076,011 wssnme mcnmn Harry E. Surface, Bloomington, 111., and Charles E. Wood, Baxter Springs, Kane.

Application September 17, 1934, Serial No. 741.318

8 Claims.

This invention relates to clothes washing machines and more particularly to those of the pulsating type, and has for its principal object to positively force a washing solution directly through the clothes to loosen, dissolve and carry away the dirt, thereby providing for greater efliciency with less wear and tear on the clothes during the washing operation.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide a simpler construction with fewer moving parts, to provide more rapid movement of the water, to positively reverse direction of the flow of the water at high frequency, to provide for uniform pressure and flow of water through all the clothes, and to provide the same pulsating action of the water with varying loads of clothes in the machine.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, we have provided improved details ofstructure, the preferred form of which is illustratedin the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig.1 is a perspective view of a washing machine constructed in accordance with our invention.

Fig. 2 is a'vertical sectional view through the washing machine showing the pulsating diaphragm at the top of its stroke.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the pulsating diaphragm at the lower end of its stroke and the toggle which secures the upper clothes retaining plate in released condition.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view at right angles to the sections illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the upper clothes retaining plate.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

i designates a washing machine including a tub 2 that is supported on legs 6.

In the illustrated instance the tub 2 includes a cylindrical well i having an upper beaded rim 5 and an inturned annular flange 6 at its lower end forming an opening 7 in the bottom of the tub.

Fixed to the flange ii and closing the opening is a movable diaphragm 8 including a coneshaped plate portion 8 having the apex thereof extending into the tub. The base of the plate is flanged outwardly as at ill and connects with the inner edge of an annular flexible ring i I having its outer edge underlapping the flange 6. The inner edge of the ring isolamped between the base flange of the plate 9 and a flat ring 82 by bolts i3 extending through aligning openings id in the respective parts, while the outer periph- 5 cry of the ring is similarly clamped to the tub (or. ss-sv) flange 8 by a ring I! and bolts It to complete the diaphragm 8.

The flexible ring is preferably formed of rub ber or similar compressible material so that it also serves the purpose of a gasket to seal the tub against leakage.

In the illustrated instance, the outer ring I 5 is formed by the inturned flange on a skirt II which depends from the bottom of the tub and houses the operating mechanism now to be described, and whereby the diaphragm is vibrated to effect pulsation of the washing fluid in the tub.

Supported between the legs 3 adjacent the lower ends thereof are bars i8 carrying spaced cross bars i9 and 20 and supported thereon substantially in the axis of the tub are bearing brackets 21! and 22 which rotatably support a shaft .23. Fixed on the shaft between the bearing brackets by a spline 24 is an eccentric disk 25 having a crank throw equal to the desired vibratory movement of the diaphragm. Mounted on the eccentric is the strap 26 of an eccentric rod 21 having its upper end pivotally connected with a wrist pin 28 carried between ears 29 and 30 depending from the under face of the diaphragm plate. It is thus obvious that rotation of the eccentric will produce through the eccentric rod reciprocatory vibration of the diaphragm which causes pulsation of the washingfluid 3! that is con- I tained in the tub.

In order to rotate the eccentric, one end of the shaft 23 projects through its bearing support and carries a pulley or similar driving member 32 which is actuated by a belt operating thereover and over an aligning pulley 34 on the shaft 85 of a motor 38, also supported on the cross bars 59 and 20.

While we have shown a flexible driving connection between the motor and eccentric, it is obvious that other driving connections can be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In order to provide positive movement of the pulsating wash fluid directly-through the clothes and to prevent their deterioration by frictional engagement with each other on the walls of the tub, we support the clothes in relatively immobile position in the tub. This is carried out by providing the tub with a false bottom comprising a perforated plate 31 of approximately the same diameter as the inner diameter of the tub so that its periphery 38 is supported on a ring or ledge 39 flxed to the wall of the tub in spaced relation to the diaphragm. The perforated plate thus forms a support for the clothes to be washed and divides the tank into the upper clothes chamber 40 and a lower pulsating chamber 4|. Cooperating with the plate 31 to hold the clothes in relatively immobile position is an upper perforatedplate 42 adapted to rest upon the top of the clothes.

In order to clamp the upper plate in position, the side walls of the tub are provided at opposite l0 diametrical points with vertically arranged racks 43 and 44 having a plurality of teeth 45, the plates 31 and 42 being provided with notches 40 to pass the racks. Fixed to the upper plate in line with the notches 46 therein are brackets 41 and 48 for pivotally mounting dogs 49 having teeth 60 to engage between the teeth of the rack bars.

In order to move the dogs to and from engagement with the rack bars and to lock them in engaged position, they are connected by an upwardly breaking toggle lever 5| including links 52 and 58 connected together and to the dogs by hinge pins 54, 55 and 58, respectively.

when the links are in extended position, as

shown in Figs. 2 and 5 to lock the dogs, the center hinge pin 54 moves slightly below the line of the other hinge pins to form a lock. In this position,.the downward movement of the toggle is limited by a lateral ear 51 on one of the links engaging the top edge of the other link at a point adjacent their. hinge connection.

The open top of the tub may be closed by a cover 58 having an annular flange 59 engaging the rim 5, as shown.

The tub may also be equipped with other accessories such as a drain fltting Gland wringer 6|, as in conventional washing machines.

In using a machine constructed as described, a suitable amount of washing fluid ispoured into the tub. The lower perforated plate 31 is then inserted so that its edge is supported on the ledge 38. The cloths to be washed are then inserted in the tub after which the upper plate is moved into position and latched against movement by the toggle 5| so that the clothes are rather loosely clamped between the plates, but tight enough so that they do not have much perceptible movement under pulsating action of the washing fluid.

The lid 58 is then placed in position and the motor started to effect vibration of the diaphragm. Vibration of the diaphragm causes the water to pulsate back and forth in an up and down motion through the bed of clothes so that the water is forced through the fabrics, thereby dissolving and washing away the dirt rather than removing the dirt by abrasion as is the present conventional practice.

Due to the fact that the clothes are retained in relatively immobile position, they are not sub- 60 ject to wear and there is a positive pressure of the wash fluid through the clothes. Also because the clothes are not agitated, the wash liquid may be pulsated much more rapidly than is the case if the clothes have free movement, as there is no wear on the clothes. Another important advantage is that there is no twisting or tangling of the clothes and. for this reason the most dainty fabrics and laces may be washed in perfect safety,

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1

1. A washing machine including a tub for containing a wash liquid, a cone-shaped diaphragm provided with a flexible ring for forming the bottom of the tub, perporate disks mounted in the tub for retaining the clothes to be washed relatively immobile under movement of the wash liquid, an eccentric for vibrating the diaphragm for pulsating the wash liquid through the clothes. and driving means for the eccentric.

2. A washing machine including a tub for containing a wash liquid, a plate member provided with a flexible ring for forming the bottom of the tub, superimposed perforate disks mounted in the tub for retaining the clothes to be washed relatively immobile under movement of the wash liquid, and rack members for supporting the clothes retaining, disks in spaced relation with the plate member.

3. A washing machine includinga tub for containing a wash liquid, a cone-shaped diaphragm provided with a flexible ring for forming the bottom of the tub, a clothes supporting disk extending horizontally across the tub in spaced relation to the diaphragm and provided with perforations, a second perforated disk for retaining clothes which are supported by the first disk relatively immobile, a clamp for removably securing the second disk to the tub, and means for vibrating the diaphragm for pulsating the wash liquid through the clothes.

4. A washing machine including a tub for containing a wash liquid, a flexible diaphragm forming the bottom of the tub, a clothes supporting disk extending horizontally across the tub in spaced relation to the diaphragm and provided with perforations, a second perforated disk for retaining clothes which are supported by the first disk in relatively immobile condition, rack members flxed to the sides of the tub, dogs pivoted on the second disk and engaging the rack members, a toggle for locking the dogs to secure said second disk in the tub, and means for vibrating the diaphragm for pulsating the wash liquid through the clothes.

' 5. A washing machine including a tub having a wall and a flange at the bottom of the wall, a

flexible ring having its outer edge anchored to' said flange, a plate member, means securing the plate member to the inner portion of the flexible ring, means in the tub for supporting a bed of clothes completely covering the area of the tub,

. means for retaining the clothes in immobility on the supporting means, and means for vibrating said plate member for pulsating wash fluid through the clothes.

6. A washing machine including a tub having a wall and a flange at the bottom of the wall, a flexible ring having its outer edge anchored to said flange, a cone-shaped plate member, means securing the cone shaped plate member to the inner portion of the flexible ring, means in the tub for supporting a bed of clothes completely covering the area of the tub, means for retaining the clothes in immobility on the supporting means, and means for vibrating said plate member for pulsating wash fluid through the clothes.

7. A washing machine including a tub having a wall and a flange at the bottom of the wall, a flexible ring having its outer edge anchored to said flange, a. plate member, means securing the plate member to the inner portion of the flexiblering, means in the tub for supporting a bed of clothes completely covering the area of the tub, means for retaining the clothes in immobility on the supporting means, an eccentric pivotally connected with the plate member for vibrating said plate member to pulsate wash fluid through the clothes, and driving means for the eccentric.

8. A washing machine including a tub having a wall and a flange at the bottom of the wall, a

nected with the dogs for selectively positioning cone-shaped plate member having flexible connection with said flange and forming a bottom for the tub, a ledge fixed to the inner wall of the tub in spaced relation to the cone-shaped plate member, toothed racks fixed to the inner surface of the wall, a perforate disk supported on the ledge for carrying a bed of clothes and having notches to pass the racks, a second perforate disk, brackets on the second named disk, dogs in the brackets having teeth engageable with the teeth of the racks, a toggle lever pivotally conthe second named disk in the racks for retaining a bed of, clothes contained between the disks in immobility relative to the cone-shaped plate member, eccentric means pivotally connected with the cone-shaped plate member for vibrating said cone-shaped plate member to pulsate wash fluid through the clothes, and means for actuating said 

